can domestic courts hold perpetrators of grave human rights abuses accountable?
A. Yes. Domestic courts are essential instruments of international justice. In fact, the ICC is a “court of last resort;” in that it only steps in when states are unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute grave abuses of human rights in domestic courts. Prosecution in the country where the abuses occurred can have a number of benefits. Holding trials in the location in which the crimes were committed can show survivors and the broader population that justice is being done. Domestic trials are also usually the most efficient way to collect evidence and testimonies and to ensure victims and witnesses are able to participate in criminal proceedings. Domestic courts can also play an important role in holding perpetrators accountable when they exercise universal jurisdiction over grave human rights crimes committed in other countries.
